Mountain bike rear shock absorbers come in many shapes and sizes, and can be customized according to the very specific needs of different drivers such as XC or DH, and different fields of use. For many, changing a rear shock is an expensive and anxiety-inducing task that requires some math and a lot of research to find the right product for their needs.

The Fox DHX spring rear shock has some adjustability, and the spring has a more linear travel, but it is not so simple to make a choice. The debate between riders on the choice of air shock and spring shock basically involves fit, ride feel and riding style.

1. What are the benefits of air pressure rear shock absorbers?

Air shocks are basically used on short-travel bikes, they are usually lighter than spring shocks, and have a progressive force through the travel, which means that when the shock is compressed, it takes more force to move through the travel , which reduces the probability of bottoming out. This feature is very important for short-travel vehicles.

2. Which applications or riding types are more suitable for air suspension?

Air shocks are great for off-road riders and anyone looking to save weight, spring shocks tend to be heavier than air shocks, and for many riders, this weight difference is unacceptable.

In addition, air suspension is not only used in XC, many experienced DH riders will also use air suspension, one of the biggest benefits of air suspension is adjustability, modern bicycles are widely used, many people hope that the same bike can be used in downhill It’s free in the park, and it’s also fun to ride on flat surfaces. Being able to adjust the suspension to handle different off-road conditions is very important for an all-rounder.

3. What are the benefits of spring shock absorbers?

What the spring lacks in adjustability, it makes up for in smoothness and responsiveness, and most people use the word “soft” to refer to the spring. Unlike the progressive nature of air shocks, spring shocks typically have very linear travel, meaning that the same amount of force is required to move the shock through its travel, which provides consistency and uniform response to rider force input.

Not all bikes can handle sprung shocks, and to get the most out of sprung shocks, riders should choose a frame that accepts this type of shock and compensates for linear compression.

Since spring shocks are built around the outer spring, they generally don’t suffer from the same problems of friction and fluid heat build-up as air shocks.
4. Which applications or riding types are more suitable for spring suspension?

DH domains are the springs’ strong suit in most conditions, and their responsiveness helps the rider feel more connected to the bike and closer to the ground. Enduro riders also often use spring suspension, and since the speed of the climb is not important, many people like to find a smooth and soft suspension on the descent. As long as you find the spring that suits you, it is more efficient when climbing.

5. Which one is more suitable for self-maintenance?

Air shocks are easy to maintain and adjust at home, especially for lower-travel bikes, and can offer a lot of functionality to help riders adjust the ride feel to different road and weather conditions, and have extra weight room. With the help of the shock pump, the rider can adjust the resistance according to his body weight, and quickly adjust the damping after carrying a large water bladder or the weight of the external car bag on the car. These designs can easily adjust the air chamber and reduce bottoming.

Rebound control and lockout switches are also available, often consisting of two or three stages of wide open, mid open, and locked positions for more efficient climbing or off-road riding. For example, the Fox Float X2 includes 8 different high-speed rebounds and 16 low-speed rebounds.

Fox’s DHX and DHX2 spring shocks aren’t without adjustability, though, and both come with an optional two-position open/hold lever for opening/closing on climbs. DHX offers 16-bit low speed rebound and 11-bit low speed rebound adjustment range. DHX2 provides 8-bit high-speed rebound and 16-bit low-speed rebound. It also offers 16-bit low-speed rebound and 8-bit high-speed rebound thanks to Fox’s proprietary VCC technology.